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Information systems in public places such as community centers and libraries require some means to provide access to individuals with physical, visual, and, if sound is involved, hearing impairments. This paper proposes a seamless adaptable human interface protocol that would allow users to incrementally modify the command and presentation aspects of the human interface to match their abilities and preferences. The protocol supports multiple control strategies (mouse, keyboard, touchscreen) and presentation forms (standard graphic, large print, voice) simultaneously. In order for the command and control structures to support flexibility and a free flow, a multilevel object-based hierarchy was used. The first implementation of the protocol is in a bibliographic database software package titled Publications, Media and Materials (PMM), which was developed for the Trace Cooperative Electronic Library. Strategies to increase efficiency of access are discussed. Screen displays in various output modes are presented, along with a table listing protocol features for individuals with specific types of disabilities. (JDD)

The paper briefly discusses the design of computers to allow their use by the 20% of the American population who have reduced abilities in such areas as manipulation, vision, hearing, and cognition. The role of manufacturers of standard computers in increasing computer accessibility is one of providing computers that can be used by an increasing number of individuals as well as providing the special "hooks" that special rehabilitation developers need in order to create and connect special adaptations for individuals with more severe handicaps. Specific problem areas and suggested solutions are offered for persons with movement disabilities, visual impairments, hearing impairments, and cognitive impairments. Mechanisms for making computers more accessible are grouped into five types in two categories: first, features to allow access and use of public or shared computers and second, features to facilitate use of personally owned or controlled computers. Tables provide a listing of software, operating system, and hardware modifications to improve input accessibility, output/display accessibility, and controls, media and documentation accessibility, and personal workstation modification facilitation. Modifications are listed in terms of the problem, examples, design recommendations, and design examples. (DB)

The paper describes concepts and principles resulting in successful applications of computer technology to the needs of the disabled. The first part describes what a microcomputer is and is not, emphasizing the microcomputer as a machine that simply carries out instructions, the role of programming, and the use of prepared application programs. The second part examines three roles for the computer in the communication rehabilitation of the disabled: (1) temporary use of a computer for assessment, education, therapy, or training; (2) long-term use of a computer as a personal aid (usually of a prosthetic nature); and (3) use of the same computers running the same programs as everyone else. The effective use of computers as personal communication aids is stressed, with particular emphasis on the importance of portability, the computer as a component of a communication system, and the computer's role in writing. Among the possible future trends identified are technical advances (such as headpointing, eyegaze and voice input) and social advances (such as more successful competitive employment by disabled individuals and better information and service delivery). (DB)

Computer access is increasingly critical for all aspects of life from education to employment to daily living, health and almost all types of participation. The pandemic has highlighted our dependence on technology, but the dependence existed before and is continuing after. Yet many face barriers due to disability, literacy, or digital literacy. Although the problems faced by individuals with disabilities have received focus for some time, the problems faced by people who just have difficulty in using technologies has not, but is a second large, yet less understood problem. Solutions exist but are often not installed, buried, hard to find, and difficult to understand and use. To address these problems, an open-source extension to the Windows and macOS operating systems has been under exploration and development by an international consortium of organizations, companies, and individuals. It combines auto-personalization, layering, and enhanced discovery, with the ability to Install on Demand (IoD) any assistive technologies a user needs. The software, called Morphic, is now installed on all of the computers across campus at several major universities and libraries in the US and Canada. It makes computers simpler to use, and allows whichever features or assistive technologies a person needs to appear on any computer they encounter (that has Morphic on it) and want to use at school, work, library, community center, etc. This demonstration will cover both the basic and advanced features as well as how to get free copies of the open-source software and configure it for school, work or personal use. It will also highlight lessons learned from the placements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to digital interfaces is a growing concern due to its increasing role in all aspects of our lives. Those who cannot access and use digital technologies will not be able to participate in the society or even live independently in smart or non-smart homes as they are currently evolving. This includes many who face barriers due to their disability, literacy, or digital literacy. Solutions exist but are often not installed, buried, hard to find, and difficult to understand and use. A new extension to the operating system that combines auto-personalization, layering, enhanced discovery, and Install on Demand (IoD) seeks to make computers easier to use by those who have difficulty learning and understanding them, and also make it easier to set up and use assistive technologies. Key to its utility is the ability to have these features and capabilities appear on any computer they encounter and want to use at school, work, library, community center, etc. Pilot testing is being launched in libraries, job centers and a community college. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to present the case studies that have been developed in the context of Cloud4all project (Cloud platforms Lead to Open and Universal access for people with Disabilities and for All; CN: FP7-289016). Cloud4all is an international collaborative effort to build and test key elements of the Global Public Inclusive Infrastructure (GPII) (http://gpii.net/). Cloud4all/GPII aims to develop a complete new paradigm in accessibility, by replacing adaptation of individual products and services for a person with automatic-personalisation of any mainstream product or service, using cloud technologies to activate and augment any natural (built-in) accessibility the product or service has, based on a profile of the user's needs (http://www.cloud4all.info). A first step in the implementation path that has already started to be followed in the project has been the identification of those case studies that would be of primary concern for Cloud4all and the overall GPII. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The incidence of disabilities is increasing as our population ages and we find that access to ICT is becoming mandatory for meaningful participation, independence, and self-sustenance. However we are not only nowhere near providing access to everyone who needs it, but we are actually losing ground due to reasons such as technical proliferation across platforms, increasing product churn (breaking existing solutions), decreasing social resources to address it, and an inability to effectively serve the tails of these populations because of the higher cost to do so. This poster describes the Cloud4all and Prosperity4All projects and progress in building the Global Public Inclusive Infrastructure (GPII), an infrastructure based on cloud, web and platform technologies that can increase dissemination and international localization while lowering the cost to develop, deploy, market, and support a broad range of access solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the author's reaction to the presentation of Mathijs Soede, which was delivered during the First International Society for Augmentative and Alternate Communication Symposium held in Stockholm, Sweden on August 16 and 17, 1990. The author agrees with the ideas of Soede and starts off by discussing a few amplifications or extensions of Soede's comments, and then raising a couple of additional issues.

For some people, interaction preference settings like large fonts or speech output are essential for technology access. We demonstrate a 'First Discovery Tool' intended as an easy and accessible way for people to discover and set preferences to address major access barriers. The tool is designed to support people who have limited technology experience or confidence. Testing in educational and senior settings found that most participants were able to understand the preferences offered, and some discovered helpful options they were previously not aware of. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Captions can be found in a variety of media, including television programs, movies, webinars and telecollaboration meetings. Although very helpful, captions sometimes have errors, such as misinterpretations of what was said, missing words and misspellings of technical terms and proper names. Due to the labor intensive nature of captioning, caption providers may not have the time or in some cases, the background knowledge of meeting content, that would be needed to correct errors in the captions. The Crowd Caption Correction (CCC) feature (and service) addresses this issue by allowing meeting participants or third party individuals to make corrections to captions in realtime during a meeting. Additionally, the feature also uses the captions to create a transcript of all captions broadcast during the meeting, which users can save and reference both during the meeting and at a later date. The feature will be available as a part of the Open Access Tool Tray System (OATTS) suite of open source widgets developed under the University of Wisconsin-Madison Trace Center Telecommunications RERC. The OATTS suite is designed to increase access to information during telecollaboration for individuals with a variety of disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the studies conducted by the Trace Center at the Waisman Center on Facilitated Communication (FC) project. The main purpose of the study was to explore FC of which its controversy concentrates on the authorship, whether the messages produced can be considered valid communications of the person with a severe communication impairment. The study resulted to the seeking of the community teams proof of authorship due to the allegations of abuse against the service providers.